Reviews

Hold My Hand by Cleopatra Margot

ava_the_bookworm's review

2.0

i literally cannot anymore i have been reading this since january?? im so done. the characters are kinda likeable but the actual story is so boring and i could not be less invested so im DNFing but ive made it 60% through so im calling it read 

dmarsh64's review

medium-paced

4.0

Tropes: 

🚨single dad 

🚨military/police 

🚨small town 

🚨forced proximity

After both experiencing tragedies in their past, Jordan and Sydney are hesitant to let new people in. When Jordan moves back to the small town he grew up in with his daughter Jolene, staying with Sydney is the last thing he wants to do; but there aren’t many other options. Sydney is all spitfire & sideways glances. Will they put the walls down long enough to see further than each others surface?? Pick this one up to find out!! 

This one H O O K E D me in with the first 3 chapters! The events that unfold have readers reeled in completely throughout the story! I absolutely ate up the banter between the characters & the chemistry created between Jordan and Sydney. 

telsreadingjournal's review

funny lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? N/A
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

3.0

Closed-door romance 

First of all, thank you to Cleopatra Margot for sending me an ARC for this book, in exchange for an honest review.

I was very excited to read this as it had a lot of my favorite tropes, also it was a closed door romance, which seems to be a little difficult to find these days but this personally missed the mark for me. I knew going into this that this was the 2nd book to a series, I thought that even though I didn't read the first one It wouldn't have mattered much as I automatically assumed that this would be one of those interconnected standalones. I can't confirm if it is indeed an interconnected standalone series, but I can say that I think I would have liked this better if I did read the first book first.

It felt like I was missing certain details as I kept reading. There were references to things that probably happened in the first book which were not being explained in this book, which caused me to be confused half the time. There were also multiple POVs, which I don’t normally mind, but there were the MMC and FMC's, but you also get the MMC's dad and step-mom's POV? Which I didn't see the point of, to me it didn't add anything to the story, it just added to my confusion. The ending also ended on a cliffhanger, so I am leaning on the idea that this is a series that would be better read in order. Lastly, while I liked Jordan and Sydney’s relationship, I felt like it moved way too fast. Sydney went from telling Jordan that they can never be a thing when she was showing him the guest house to them practically falling in love when Jordan and Jolene moved in.

I didn't dislike everything, Jolene (MMC's daughter) was the cutest thing ever. Loved any scene that included her. She seems like an adorable little girl, and seems to have everyone wrapped around her fingers. 

If you are going to read this one I would highly suggest reading the first book first then reading this one. You might like it better than I did. There also seems to be a subplot of mystery so if you like that this might be something worth checking out. 

silverwaxwing's review

emotional hopeful inspiring lighthearted mysterious reflective relaxing sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

Cleopatra's second book in the Del Ray series was such a breath of fresh air. Hold My Hand isn't the romance about perfect, unblemished people. It's is the romance about people with hard pasts who have dealt with trauma and suffering. It's the story about two broken people who come together and make each other whole. 

Set in the quintessential Midwestern town of Balsam Falls, Jordan & Sydny (and sweet Jolene) live out a wholesome tale, laced with very real problems. These beautiful characters face very tough struggles but become better through their hardships. Their pain brought tears to my eyes. 

If you like stories about small town cops, girls who take pictures, family mysteries, and a town full of ladies that can't keep their noses in their own business, this book is definitely for you.

---

Content Warnings

Minor: Suicide

mishbookish's review

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Read this book if you like:

✨Single Dad 
✨Close Proximity (he is her tenant)
✨veteran
✨age gap
✨grumpyxsunshine vibes from both sides

I honestly enjoyed this book, it’s not my top read but I liked how it made me feel. I am a fan on Cleo’s writing. I respect how she can make someone feel so much and not add any spice. The premise of the book is unique and it not only gives you the perspective of the MCs but also the other characters (his dad and his dad’s love)

I like books where the story revolves even outside their love and god this book was filed with it all.

demitomkins's review

lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

2.0

jenahrain's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious medium-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

kaylas_reading_nook's review

emotional hopeful inspiring lighthearted mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Please if you haven’t read Sun To Me please do so so you can read Hold My Hand! ❤️

This story here made me cry from being happy, sad and every other emotion in between. It was an amazing continuation of the first book and I can’t wait for the third! Jordan and Sydney’s relationship is a special one and I love how they pick at each other. Jordan is an amazing father to Jolene. He would do anything for her! 🥹 This story is so much more than a love story. It is a story about family, grief, loss, finding yourself again, finding family and following your heart and doing what’s right for you at that moment.

There’s so much more I want to say, but the words won’t flow out of me the way I want them to. 

I will say though, My daughter is autistic and it touched my heart to see a character with autism. Thank you ❤️

melaniestewart16's review

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious sad tense medium-paced

5.0

thecaffeinatedbookaholic's review against another edition

4.0

Jordan & Sydney have the sweetest story. After the cliffhanger in Sun to Me, I was dying for this book, and it picked up right where that one left off! These two both have been dealing with so much loss and pain; seeing them find a safe space in each other melted my heart. Sydney was determined to keep her walls up, but clearly none of us are immune to a single dad. I loved watching Jordan and his daughter, Jolene, heal and find their happiness. I loved watching those two slip right through Sydney’s walls. Their banter was fun, the nicknames made me smile, and the deleted texts had me kicking my feet. I really enjoyed this one, and I cannot wait for more of the Del Rays–I need to know what happens next!